Actual experience on the Thai Government announcement of 7th April regarding the need (or not) to still go to the immigration offices

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Hello, I was very confused about this thing and reading "opinions" online just made me more confused. So I thought I should share my experience with it in case it may help somebody.

I have a tourist visa that was expiring on 29 March (included the 30 days usual extension). I asked the embassy for the letter explaining I was caught in Thailand with no possible flights out. I went to Chaengwattana Immigration Office and they granted me the "extraordinary" extension. HOWEVER, they required me to go there again on the 10th of April. And here were my doubts. Does the 7th April announcement meant that I do not have to the Immigration Office on the 10th of April?

Short answer: you still need to go.

What I learned as I was explained by immigration officers: if you are currently in an irregular visa situation in Thailand, you do not need to go; if you are in a regular visa situation in Thailand, you need to go. Regular means, you still have a valid tourist visa, or the normal extension, or the extraordinary extension.

If this is your case, YOU CANNOT let your extension expire, you still have to go to the immigration office to get your stamp, and once the "extraordinary" extension expires (in my case on the 29th of April) you have to request AGAIN a letter from your embassy and apply AGAIN at the immigration office for a new "extraordinary" extension if you need to stay longer in the country and provided that the Thai Government still grants that option.
That is my experience, not opinion, based on what happened to me, not on my interpretation of the Thai law. I talked with three different people at the immigration office in Chaengwattana to make sure it was correct. I do not speak Thai (and English so so), but I tried to ensure that I was getting the message right, as much as it sounds illogical or non-common sense to me.

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It does not sound correct to me either. but I can swear that this is what happened today, the 10th of April.

I did talk with three different person, and the last one, a very kind woman willing to make herself understood even brought me an English language document with two paragraphs summarizing the 7th April announcement.

At that point I tried to suggest that therefore was no need for me to come back to the immigration office, to which she made very clear: 1) I am today at Chaengwattana to comply with the 10th April visit, as I still must; 2) Today I get a new stamp until the 29th April and therefore I am requested to come again on that day or before if I do not leave the country earlier and I wish to extend my visa again; 3) To that effect I shall request a new letter from the Embassy again too.

When I mentioned the 7th April announcement, it was clear to me that they are very aware of it and yet these are the instructions. I would be very surprised otherwise, being the Immigration office itself, and the central one, for that sake.

Based on that, and since I am in Bangkok, I intend to do as I was told today. Better prevent than heal.

If somebody else had a different experience, I would like to know too.

The Samut Prakan Immigration officers asked me to reiterate to you that no-one needs to come in, but if you feel safe, then you are welcome to visit them. As there aren’t many people any more, they said it shouldn’t take long to extend your stay. Everything looked good to me.

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OnApril 8, the Royal Thai Government approved and implemented automatic visa extensions for foreign nationals (including U.S. citizens) whose visas expire between March 26 and April 30, 2020.Visaswill be extended automatically until April 30, 2020.The measure applies to all immigration categories including visa exemption (i.e., tourists who entered Thailand and received a 30-day visa), the category typically received by U.S. citizen tourists. Ifyou have a valid visa, you do not need to visit an immigration office in order to benefit from the automatic visa extension.

If the National Emergency Decree is extended, then visas may (pending Cabinet approval) be extended automatically again for 30 days.For U.S. citizens who are staying in Thailand for over 90 days and were required to submit a Notification of Residence anytime after March 26, the deadline has been extended to April 30. If your visa expired on March 25 (or earlier), you will need to visitthe nearest local immigration office to request a visa. You may be subject to an overstay fine. You may also need an extension of stay request letter from the Embassy.

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Why the rudeness? Im particularly affected by that post since I usually attend that same IMM office. And if, as R. Barrow states, IMM reads his twitter and he knows someone inside, why wouldn't they say anything to him when he clearly posted that NO ONE not on overstay since before March 26 needs to attend to IMM office right now?

I know im not giving you any fact so, In my opinion, It is as simple as attending to your IMM office if you have serious doubts about any information, as he, by the way, also suggested. You are the only one speaking about "believing" here, which is not the smartest thing to do right now, in one direction or another. Empty offices, great moment to go and check by yourself (if you need to, of course).

Right now, my embassy (the first european one that started issuing letters, in a fast way, in paper, and free of charge) says I dont need a letter even if I already got a 2nd covid extension as im ok until April 30, and another european embassy stopped issuing letters because they say its not needed to anyone. Im not saying im gonna believe them 100% as they are not the authority in the country. But I kind of trust my embassy in their reasons for stop issuing letters. It's certainly not because they dont want to work anymore.

P.s.: no one is discussing the validity of this post. 1st (bad) experience and very helpful for lots of us!

I can't speak for that poster, but the rudeness comes maybe because there is a farang pretending he understands Thai immigration, and stating things as fact when the truth of the matter is, he can't possibly understand <deleted> is going on. Although I am sure he does his best. He may understand a lot... but as this guy pointed out to you, believe the IO in front of you. In fact, take that to your grave. Whatever the <deleted> R Barrow tells you he thinks he knows, believe the IO standing in front of you.

Edited April 10 by sucit

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I can't speak for that poster, but the rudeness comes maybe because there is a farang pretending he understands Thai immigration, and staing things as fact when the truth of the matter is, he can't possibly understand <deleted> is going on. He may understand a lot... but as this guy pointed out to you, believe the IO in front of you. In fact, take that to your grave. Whatever the <deleted> R Barrow tells you he thinks he knows, believe the IO standing in front of you.

That is what we all should do if we have serious concerns: go check by ourselves at an IMM office. I wont stay home because Richard Barrow said so. It's me who risks an overstay, not him.

Anyway, I dont think he has been interpreting the thai immigration as we all are comfy doing here. If he is not lying, he has spoken with them (at least with Samut Prakan IMM, which directly affects me). So maybe it's an office issue. CW against Samut Prakan. Asi I already posted, a 1st hand experience in Samut Prakan office confirms Barrow:

The rudeness is not needed. We are here seriously doing nothing more than giving opinions and interpretations. If Richard Barrow's name cannot be brought here, let's just come back to Italy and UK embassies messages.

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That is what we all should do if we have serious concerns: go check by ourselves at an IMM office. I wont stay home because Richard Barrow said so. It's me who risks an overstay, not him.

Anyway, I dont think he has been interpreting the thai immigration as we all are comfy doing here. If he is not lying, he has spoken with them (at least with Samut Prakan IMM, which directly affects me). So maybe it's an office issue. CW against Samut Prakan. Asi I already posted, a 1st hand experience in Samut Prakan office confirms Barrow:

The rudeness is not needed. We are here seriously doing nothing more than giving opinions and interpretations. If Richard Barrow's name cannot be brought here, let's just come back to Italy and UK embassies messages.

There is definitely some inconsistency going on. I read on a facebook group, that up in Chiang Mai immigration, they are indeed advising all tourists (regular, exempt, extended) that they are automatically covered. This is really bad if you need to be selective on which office you go to in order to get the correct treatment for your permission to stay. It's a big mess to say the least!

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In the end, for each individual, it will depend on your local immigration office's definitions of "visas" and "all". There is nothing particularly new in this. Thai official regulations are rarely clear and, on the rare occasions that they are clear, some officials will still manage to misread them.

Edited April 10 by BritTim

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There is definitely some inconsistency going on. I read on a facebook group, that up in Chiang Mai immigration, they are indeed advising all tourists (regular, exempt, extended) that they are automatically covered. This is really bad if you need to be selective on which office you go to in order to get the correct treatment for your permission to stay. It's a big mess to say the least!

Totally. I have been so relaxed for almost 2 days. Too good to be true any longer

Edited April 10 by ANDREW999

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In the end, for each individual, it will depend on your local immigration office's definitions of "visas" and "all". There is nothing particularly new in this. Thai official regulations are rarely clear and, on the rare occasions that they are clear, some officials will still manage to misread them.

Totally agree. And they can misread them with no consequences, cant they?

The thing is, what will we do when our embassy interprets we do not need a letter anymore and stop issuing it, as in my case?